No chance to air views

Re: Pensioner calls for return of bus route (Shropshire Star, October 14). I write in support of the points made by William Crosbie in the above article.

The removal by Arriva of the Sutton Hill Centre bus stop has indeed caused hardship to many people.

Sutton Hill Residents' Association and the borough council have for over a year tried to get Arriva to discuss these issues with local bus users but Arriva has failed to take up the invitation.

I want to address the following comment made by Arriva spokesman Keith Wyatt: "We revised our route following extensive consultation with the borough council and local people in the area."

Every time this issue is raised Arriva responds with this.

In May 2001 the office of Neil Barker, managing director of Arriva Midlands North, said: "However, before any change is made to these routes in Sutton Hill a full period of consultation will take place."

After the route changes were made, without any consultation with the bus users in Sutton Hill, a council spokesman said: "The decision on the timings, frequency and routes of such services resides entirely with the bus company."

Arriva is not being asked to include this bus stop as an act of charity. It makes sound commercial sense. We now have pensioners with free bus passes unable to use them. We have others who would use the buses more frequently if they had easier access to them.

Councillor Paul M Doyle, SHRA Chairman